Parties seek review of NHPC projects

‘Let Commission Probe Agreements With Corporation’

MUDDASIR ALI

Srinagar, Mar 15: With the government making startling revelations on Monday that no MoU was signed with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for three major power projects constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, different political parties are seeking setting up of a commission to probe the “gross neglect” and reviewing of all agreements on power projects with the Corporation to compensate the state.Blaming ruling National Conference for “economic and political destruction” of the state, the chief of main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti, said: “They (NC) not only surrendered our water resources but hydroelectric projects were too gifted for power. It all happened during their regime when they enjoyed overwhelming majority,” she said.Replying to discussion on annual grants of his Ministry in the Legislative Assembly, Minister of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din had said that no formal MOUs were signed by the State Government with NHPC for construction of Salal, Dulhasti and Uri-I power projects.The Minister had said that it was not known that how land was acquired, what was the time-frame for which the land will be allotted and when the same will be returned to the State as nothing is in black and white. Moreover there is no Cabinet decision under which the land has been transferred to NHPC.“Ever since the PDP started taking up issues regarding politics and economy of the state, voices are emerging on the same issues from different quarters. National Conference has been beating the drum about autonomy. It should not be symbolism. The party has surrendered the state’s autonomy to use its own resources,” she said.Constructed on River Chenab, 390 MW Dul Hasti, a run-of-the-river scheme, is the second project to be executed by NHPC and has started production in 2007. 345 MW Salal-I was commissioned in 1987. First unit of Stage-II of the project was commissioned in 1993, second in 1994 and third in 1995. Uri-I is a run-of-the-river scheme with an installed capacity of 480 MW.CPI-M leader MY Tarigami termed the revelation made by Taj as “very serious.”“A commission must be constituted to probe this unconstitutional and unlawful act. It is not the question of finances alone but surrendering the rights of the state and whatever little autonomy we enjoyed. Successive governments must be made accountable because somebody has done it and others have remained silent. It is not question of blame game but a harsh reality has been unveiled,” Tarigami said.Reacting to Taj’s statement, senior National Conference leader, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan said: “Whatever has happened in the past, it has happened. It has been done by the governments post ’60s and ’70s. We can’t do anything now. However, we have to ensure that proper rules are followed in future,” he said.Known political analyst, Prof Gul Muhammad Wani, said the statement made by the minister should be read in perspective. “The state has lot of pressure on internal resource mobilization as a result the politico-economic issues have come to forefront and water resources have become important issue. The state has been made by the senior minister from Congress-the party which is responsible for economic subjugation of the state.”He said since power and water has become a must need for industrialization and hence development, the question for the government arises if some kind of raw material is available for exploitation, it has to be utilized fully.

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